Adjustable measuring cup



Oct. 12 ,1926. 1,602,937 J. G. RIEFF ADJUSTABLE MEASURING CUP Original filed Feb. 2 1925 l H mm m1; J nn 5 IIIIIHIIIUI Patented 0a. 12, 1926.

OHN G. aiarr. ornoivnomwrsoonsm amus'rasmamn'asuitme our.

Application filed Felix-nary '2, 1925, Serial No. 6,366. Renewed gam a;

This invention relates to adjustable measuring cups, and although the invention is primarily designed for the measuring of feed for. cattle it is to be understood that it.

may be used in other capacities to measure other materlals.

In feeding cattle it is frequently the case that it is impractical to provide automatic feeding machinery in the relatively close spaces found in certain barns and consequently it becomes necessary to manually weigh out the feed and apportion it to the cattle in this manner, thus necessitating a large amount of time and considerable work.

This invention is designed to overcome the above noted defects, and objects of such'in vention are to provide a measuring cup which may be instantly changed to deliver any desired weight of feed, and to provide such a cup with a. fine adjustment for the movable piston therein, so that an accurate initial adjustment may be made and subsequent quick adjustments for difi'erent amounts may be very easily made.

Further objects are to provide a device which may be carried in the hand, which may be very quickly operated, and which is accurate. Further objects are to provide a measuring cup of extreme simplicity, which may becheaply manufactured, and which is of strong and substantial construction and not likely to get out of order.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section of the cup.

Figure 2 is a bottom view of the structure shown in Figure 1.

The measuring cup comprises a tubular sheet metal body 1 which is of cylindrical or other contour, and which is referably open top and bottom. This b0 y portion 1 is provided .with a handle 2. A convenient way of forming this handle is to make it of strap iron or similar strap metal.

An upper foot 3 and a lower foot 4 are provided and are riveted to the body portion 1. From the lower foot the strap extends transversely across the bottom, as indicated at 5, and from this point extends upwardly at right angles, as indicated at 6, to provide an attaching foot on the opposite side, such foot being securely riveted or otherwise secured to the body portion 1, as shown in Figure 1.

It is to be noted from Figure 1 that the bottom strap 5 is provided with an elongated .the requirement of the cattle.

to the butter fat orotherwise de slot 7 approximately centrally: thereof and freely through such slot. This plunger car-v ries at its upper end a pistong9 which fits within the interior of the body portion 1.

; Means are provided for securing an accurate that a slidable' rectangular plunger 8 passes") adjustment of the piston-relative to the plunger 8, and such means may comprise a threaded reduced extension 10 which passes through the plunger. Washers 11 are positioned on opposite sides of the piston and such piston is clamped between a lock nut 12 on the lower side and a thumb nut or look nut 13 on theupper side. Thus the exact adjustment of the piston with reference to the plunger-may be quickly made by unscrewing the locking nut or thumb 13 and adjusting the lock nut'12, thereafter tightening the thumb nut 13.

It is to be noted that the plunger 8 is provided with a plurality of regularly spaced rectangular notches 14 along one side thereof adapted to engage a portion of the strap 5, as shown in Figure 1. A spring 15 bears against the other side of the plunger and is 'carried within a small tubular housing 16 riveted or otherwise secured to the strap 5. It is to be noted that this housing 16 is provided with a slot 17 aligning with the slot 7 and thus permitting free sliding of the plunger therethrough.

In using the device, for example, to ap ortion feed in accordance with the weight, 1t is merely necessary, in the initial setting of the device to. place one of the notches 14 in engagement with the transverse strap 5, such adjustment corresponding to a certain weight of feed.

Thereafter, the piston 9 is adjusted by manipulating the lock nuts 12 and 13 until the exact weight of feed is carried above the piston when the feed is level with the top of the body portion 1. Thereafter, the initial adjustment is not disturbed and the device is used to apportion feed in accordance with It is, of course, understood that cattle should be fed a weight of feed in proportion to the wei ht of milk secured therefrom or in proportlon nitely related to the output of the cow. This is easily accomplished for each individual cow by settin the desired notch 14 in engagement wit the bottom strap 5 to thus graduate theweight of feed given to each cow.

This adjustment or change from one weight has been provided which is of extremely 'simpleconstruction, which may be quickly manipulated and may be readily carried in.

the hand when delivering the feed.

It will be seen further that although the device has been described primarily for use in pro ortioning the weight of feed to cattle that, obviously, it may be used for measuring other material.

Although the invention has been described in considerable detail, it is to be understood that the invention may be variously embodied and is, therefore, to be limited only as claimed.

I claim l. An adjustable measuring cup for measuring quantities of material corresponding to diflerent weights, said cup comprising a body portion, a piston within said body portion, a rectangular plunger having notches along one edge and having a reduced threaded end passing through said piston lock nuts carried by said threaded extension and located on opposite sides of said piston, a transverse member extending across the bottom of said body portion and having a rectangular slot for the reception of said plunger, and a spring carried by said transverse member and bearing against the edge of said plunger opposite the notched edge.

'2. An adjustable measuring cup comprise ing a hollow body portion having an open top and bottom, a transverse member extending across the bottom and bent upwardly to extend along the side of the body, the upwardly extending portion being bowed outwardly to form a handle, said transverse member being slotted, a plunger carried 1n the slot of the said transverse'member and having a series of notches on one side adapted to engage said transverse member, resilient means carried by said transverse member and bearing against the side of said plunger opposite said notches, and a piston carried by the upper end. of said plunger.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand at London, in the leounty of Dane and State of Wisconsin.

JOHN G. RIEFF. 

